The shadow culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has ratcheted up his opposition to the government's plan for regional TV news consortiums by promising to block the proposal's passage through parliament in the digital economy bill.

Hunt has consistently opposed the idea of independently funded news consortiums (IFNCs) using a public subsidy to provide replacement news services for ITV in the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Hunt has now promised to prevent the proposal even becoming law, instead fighting to have it removed from the digital economy bill. "This is a redline for us. We want this clause out of the bill," he told the Financial Times today.

Because of the limited time left before the general election, the Conservatives have the power to force amendments to proposed legislation.

Hunt would prefer a market-led approach to supplying regional news and has advocated reform of media ownership laws.

The government has earmarked three areas – Scotland, Wales and the Tyne Tees and Border region – for pilot schemes that will cost around £20m a year, to be funded from the BBC licence fee.

An independent selection panel will be choosing between various bidders for the pilots by the end of next month.